Aliteratus

Booking Through Thursday – But, What About Me?

2009-12-03T10:28:00.002-05:00

Today's Question:

What's your favorite part of Booking Through Thursday? Why do you participate (or not?)

My Response:

I love BTT for the same reason I love book blogging in general. I like reading participants' responses, finding out about books and other readers' thoughts about them. I don't get to have a lot of book-related conversations in real life these days, so it's fun to indulge in a little book talk with other passionate readers. I also love the self-reflection that BTT inspires. Some of these questions force me to evaluate my reading habits and consider why I like or don't like a certain book or genre.

Now it's your turn. What's your favorite part of BTT or book blogs?

Everyday Use

2009-12-02T00:18:00.014-05:00

Yo-yo quilt by made by Faye Fletcher

I haven't been blogging lately because I received word on November 16 that my grandmother had been admitted to the hospital. With Zoe as my furry sidekick, I made the two-day drive from Texas to Ashe County, North Carolina, in the Appalachian Mountains (where my cell phone and mobile Internet are useless). Unfortunately, I did not "win" NaNoWriMo, but I don't really care. I am so glad I was able to spend time with my grandmother and help make her more comfortable, and that I was able to be with my family during this time.

My grandmother passed away on Friday. Her memorial service was held in the same small country church were my parents were married over forty years ago. The family cemetery where she is now buried stands on a hill overlooking that church, a small creek, and the house where my father was raised. Just down the road is the hollar (hollow) where the house my grandmother was born and raised in once stood.

Granny was a school teacher. Several of her former students who attended her memorial service shared their memories of Miss Faye teaching them to read from a Dick and Jane reader. I can remember her reading to me from the same book when I was young. I also remember how much she loved to read. When I was little she would read a short novel and work an entire book of difficult crossword puzzles just about every day. I am certain I get some of my book nerdiness from her. She also taught me how to sew, cross-stitch, crochet, make fabric yo-yos and a hundred other skills I use every day.

Detail of Embroidered Table Cloth with Crochet Trim Made by Faye Fletcher

Over the years she and the members of her quilting circle made hundreds, if not thousands, of quilts. They gave many of them away to people in the community, and a few of them keep their loving descendants warm each night. Granny was also famous for her pound cakes and left drawers full of handwritten recipes. We are also left with fond memories of her quick wit and fierce independence, and her examples of unfailing kindness and generosity to try to follow.

In the days since she became ill, my brother has made several cakes using her recipes, trying to make one that tastes as good as hers did. I have crocheted a scarf for each of my nieces, and am teaching them to knit and crochet just like Granny taught me. When I think about my grandmother and her life, I am reminded of Alice Walker's short story, Everyday Use, which is about truly appreciating one's heritage and family traditions. The things my grandmother taught us – about reading, cooking, quilting and life – are her legacy.

So it touched my heart when I got back to the Interwebs yesterday and learned that a blogger in Guam had linked to my article about making yo-yo quilts and had made some cute fabric yo-yos for herself and her daughters. My grandmother, who spent most of her 95 years living alongside that one-mile stretch of creek that runs through those North Carolina mountains, left a creative legacy that now reaches farther than she ever imagined. If she knew, she would just smile a little and say, "Well . . . " And then just go on about her business.

Booking Through Thursday – Too Short?

2009-11-12T12:45:00.007-05:00

The question:

“Life is too short to read bad books.” I’d always heard that, but I still read books through until the end no matter how bad they were because I had this sense of obligation.

That is, until this week when I tried (really tried) to read a book that is utterly boring and unrealistic. I had to stop reading.

Do you read everything all the way through or do you feel life really is too short to read bad books?

My response:

I used to try to suffer through a book even if I wasn't enjoying it, but I think reading So Many Books, So Little Time by Sara Nelson convinced me it is okay to give up on a book. So Many Books is the chronicle of Nelson's attempt to read and write about 52 books over the course of a year (It's a really fun read.) One week in February, she just can't get into a particular book on her list and writes about giving up on books:

"Allowing yourself to stop reading a book—at page 25, 50, or even, less frequently, a few chapters from the end—is a rite of passage in a reader's life, the literary equivalent of a bar mitsvah or a communion, the moment at which you look at yourself and announce: Today I am an adult. I can make my own decisions" (55).

This sentiment has stuck with me, but I'm still a recovering member of what Nelson calls the "book equivalent of the Clean Plate Club" (56). There are some books I have started and just wasn't in the mood to finish at the time, but that I still intend to finish reading them one day. Usually these are the ones that others have raved about, so I feel they deserve another chance: Pride and Prejudice, Anna Karenina, Reading Lolita in Tehran are three that immediately come to mind.

But maybe my desire to finish these books also has to do with the fact that they are considered serious or "important" books. I once tried to read Confessions of a Shopaholic to critique for a literature class project, and I just. could. not. do. it. I didn't feel bad about that one bit. I also gave up on reading Eats, Shoots and Leaves earlier this year because, while it was really funny and informative, I just grew tired of the author's condescension and penchant for calling people who make grammar mistakes "stupid." I don't feel bad about not finishing that one either.

In short, I have found that allowing myself to stop reading a book that no longer interests me is very freeing, but I can't always bring myself to give up on it entirely.

Anyhow, what about you? Do you finish what you've started reading even if you don't like it? Or do give it up and move on to something better?

The First Rule of NaNoWriMo

2009-11-11T03:25:00.012-05:00

is don't talk about NaNoWriMo. Just write.

Okay, not really. It's more like: Just write.

I meant to post a NaNo update at the end of week one, but I didn't want to lose momentum by blogging about NaNo instead of writing my draft. I have written 20,139 words of fiction over these past ten days. I have even managed to stay 1-2 days ahead of the daily word count goals because I don't want to fall behind.

My novel is about events in a small town. That's all I can say for sure at the moment, and even that is subject to change without prior notice from the Muse.

Is all (or even most) of what I have written good? Definitely not. Am I proud of myself anyway? Very much so.

This draft is the longest piece of fiction I have ever written. Weighing in at a chunky 62 double-spaced pages (1-inch margins, 12 pt. font,) this project blows all of those old college papers and even my senior thesis right out of the water in terms of length – and I'm not even halfway done yet.

Yeah, I know, I'm all optimistic and cocky after only 10 days. I don't mean to sound smug, really. I think, at the end of this month, my novel will be a big ole pile of crap, but it will be a finished pile of crap and I will have learned a lot about how to write a novel (or at least a first draft of one.) I'll be able to say I set this goal and accomplished it, and I motivated myself to meet a ridiculous deadline. Then I will take my steaming pile of word crap and edit it into something better and I will learn from that, too.

That's all for now. To anyone else out there NaNoing: even if you're behind on your word goals, it's okay. Just write and you can catch up. Even if you don't finish before Nov. 30, so what? Go at your own pace. Just write.

I would love to hear about your NaNo experiences and your tips on writing first drafts.

(Photo credit: imelenchon from morguefile.com )

Booking Through Thursday - It's All About Me

2009-11-06T00:15:00.001-05:00

It's Booking Through Thursday time again:

Which do you prefer? Biographies written about someone? Or Autobiographies written by the actual person (and/or ghost-writer)?

Personally, I prefer autobiographies written by the actual person. I have never stopped to consider whether they are ghostwritten or not. But most of the autobiographies and memoirs I have read were about writers' lives so I will assume they aren't ghostwritten.

I think that biographies can sometimes by speculative and invasive, and just don't seem as genuine to me as an autobiography. But then, what I really like to read are authors' published journals.

What about you? Which do you prefer?

Teaser Tuesday - Once Again to Zelda

2009-11-03T10:04:00.001-05:00

I have been reading (and thoroughly enjoying) Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible for a few weeks now, but still haven't quite finished it. So this week Teaser Tuesdays is not just a teaser for you, but one for me as well.

Once Again to Zelda: The Stories Behind Literature's Most Intriguing Dedications by Marlene Wagman-Geller is the book from my Fall Into Reading list that I'd like to take on next. Since it is about novels and novelists, and also has very short chapters and no long, linear narrative, I think it's the perfect book for me to read in little spurts during NaNoWriMo.

A teaser from chapter 6: which concerns the dedication of Dostoyevsky's, The Brothers Karamazov: "[Dostoyevsky] had made a bet with his publisher that he would submit his next novel within the next eighteen months. The consequence for his failure to meet the November 1 deadline was he would lose his publishing rights for all his works, including all past, present, amd future novels" (28).

I'm not sure what exactly that bit has to do with the dedication (to Anna Grigorevna Dostoyevsky,) but I can tell already that I am going to like this book. I really enjoy reading about authors' life stories and idiosyncrasies.

NaNoWriMo 2009 - Psyching Myself Up

2009-10-31T13:26:00.012-04:00

Photo credit: patricia-fortes from morguefile.com

I suppose it's time I officially declare my intentions: I've signed up for the creative masochism that is NaNoWriMo and am attempting to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November.

I attempted NaNo once before, totally on a whim. I think I only got to about 2,600 words. But it was still a fantastic experience and made me want to learn more about the craft of writing fiction..This year I am much more prepared. I actually have an idea, characters, and some semblance of plot – none of which I really had the first time around.

I think NaNo is such an interesting phenomenon. The first year, 1999, there were only 21 writers in the San Francisco Bay area participating. Now there are around 100,000 participants each year from all over the world. I think something like 15 - 20% actually "win" by not giving up, and reaching 50,000 words before Nov. 30. On their press kit page, there is a list of NaNo novels that have been published (you have to scroll down a little to see it) that includes a bestseller: Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.

The odds of actually winning may not be that great, but I refuse to entertain the possibility of defeat. The awesome thing about NaNo is that it's just a deadline and (as I am sure a lot of writers would agree) deadlines can be very effective at silencing that inner-editor who whispers in your ear: "No, no, NO! This is CRAP. Delete!!!" And, besides, NaNo is a lot of fun, There are write-ins where people gather to work on their novels, word count wars, dares – all kinds of writerly goodness.

The writing begins at midnight tonight, so good luck to all of my writing buddies and other fellow novelists. Oh and here is a really great pep talk from another writer and NaNo participant.

Happy writing, and Happy Halloween, too!

Booking Through Thursday - Blurbs - Belated Edition

2009-10-30T19:16:00.002-04:00

I've been so busy working on my NaNoWriMo project, and other stuff, that I missed Booking Through Thursday yesterday. The question:

Suggested by Jennysbooks:

Something I’ve been thinking about lately: “What words/phrases in a blurb make a book irresistible? What words/phrases will make you put the book back down immediately?”

My response: Wow. This is a toughie. I'll have to think about this.....

....Okay, got it: Phrases like "beautifully written," "complicated journey" and words like "poetic," "charming," "unexpected" and the overused adjective "lyrical" make me want to read a book. "Suspenseful," "paranormal," "romance," (or any combination thereof) don't really do it for me.

Book Review: Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms by Jane Doiron

2009-10-30T18:53:00.006-04:00

Title: Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Moms

Author: Jane Doiron

Publisher: Outskirts Press, 2009

Price: $17.95 U.S.

ISBN: 978-1-4327-2086-5

Read it: to find something good to make for dinner tomorrow (or next week.)

I <3 this cookbook!

I'm not really a great cook. And Charlie is kind of picky. That means we eat out a lot, which can get kind of expensive. Or we eat the same things again and again that I know I can make and that Charlie will eat. And that's kind of boring.

But we've been eating really well for the past few weeks: stuffed mushrooms, broiled salmon, cheesy casseroles, zucchini parmesan, taco pie, blueberry muffin bread, mini cheesecakes - all kinds of yummyness. I've been trying out these make-ahead recipes (I just substituted veg proteins for the ground beef and chicken recipes, and used soy milk in the baked goods.) and they all came out awesome, which makes me feel like a pretty awesome cook.

And the concept - that you do all the shopping and chopping and grating and sauteeing when you have time, and stick the meal in the fridge or freezer until you are ready to heat it and eat it, is not just good for busy moms, but busy writers too. I'm going to make up a few of these dishes this weekend and store them in preparation for NaNoWriMo.

Check out Jane's blog,

And while you're there, learn how to win a copy of her book for your very own

(you can't have mine. I am so keeping it.)

Related article: My review of this book for Suite101.

(And yes, Big Brother FCC, I did receive a copy of this book to review, but I am not under any obligation to say nice things about it.)

Booking Through Thursday - One Question

2009-10-22T10:12:00.002-04:00

This week's BTT prompt is just too good:

If you could ask your favorite author (alive or dead) one question … who would you ask, and what would the question be?

I'm sorry. I have to cheat, because one question is just not enough. I'd ask Harper Lee why she hasn't published another novel (even though I am pretty sure I already know the answer), whether or not she still writes, and what does she think about this biography of her life.I'd also ask Sherwood Anderson to tell me about his inspirations for Winesburg, Ohio. And I'd take a cue from Jess's response at Start Narrative Here and ask them both about their creative processes.

And I'll probably be thinking for days of more questions to ask other authors, too.

What about you? What question(s) would you ask your favorite author?

Book Review - Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia by Patricia Neely-Dorsey

2009-10-22T08:38:00.001-04:00

Title: Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems
Author: Patricia Neely-Dorsey
Publisher: GrantHouse
ISBN: 978-0-9796294-2-6
Price: $15.00
Read It: To wax nostalgic about childhood and life in the American South.

Patricia Neely-Dorsey sent me a copy of her first poetry book to read and tell you about. Many of the poems in this collection of life poetry are literal, descriptive celebrations of Mississippi and Southern culture: soul food, manners, traditions. Others are personal reflections on childhood, family, love, relationships, being a Southerner and being a black woman.

Neely-Dorsey has a talent for imagery that makes me smile and recall memories of my own childhood. Poems like "Southern Life" affectionately detail the "simple things", emblems of Southern life like "mockingbirds", "rocking chairs and front yard swings", "hot cornbread" and "ice tea that's syrupy sweet." Others, such as "Sounds of Summer" and "Summer Night (Southern Style)" are lyrical and sweet depictions of nature and country life.

Her sense of humor comes through in poems like "Country Cure (All)" – about the myriad uses for Vick's vapor rub – and the unfortunately vivid, yet funny poem, "Hog Killing Time". Others poems are sweet tributes to her family and, friends, and to a way of life that has nearly faded from the American landscape: neighborhood grocers, downtown dept. stores, country doctors who make housecalls.

I also enjoyed a few of the poems that explore more personal and serious themes, such as "Shades of Lovely (Good Enough to Eat)," "Loving Me" and "Happy (With the Nappy)" all of which deal with identity and self-acceptance, And the poem: "Right to Vote" tuches on civil rights issues confronted by the poet's parents.

Young readers would likely enjoy this poet's poems about nature and the South. I could see a parent or grandparent reading Neely-Dorsey's upbeat, descriptive rhymes about Southern culture, country life and bygone days to children. And I think anyone who grew up in the South, or who enjoys the laid back nature of rural life, will appreciate the sentiments expressed in this collection.

About Patricia Neely-Dorsey
Patricia Neely-Dorsey is a Mississippi native. She graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in Psychology in 1982, and currently lives in Tupelo, Misssissippi with her family. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). For a sampling of poems, more reviews of Mississippi Magnolia, and interviews, check out Patricia Neely-Dorsey's web site.

Teaser Tuesday - The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

2009-10-20T15:10:00.003-04:00

For Teaser Tuesdays this week, let me share two sentences from Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible:

"Nathan, meanwhile, wrapped himself up in the salvation of Kilanga. Nathan as a boy played football on his high school team kn Killdeer, Mississippi, with great success evidently, and expected his winning season to continue ever after" (96).

I have read about one third of Poisonwood so far. I read a lot of good things about it on others' book blogs before adding it to my Fall reading list. And I am not disappointed

It did take me close to 100 pages to really get into the story, but the narrators kept me interested from the beginning, Adah being my favorite. Now I'm at the point where the political conflict starts to ntensify, and I can't wait to see what happens!

Teaser Tuesday - Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

2009-09-29T14:40:00.002-04:00

It's Teaser Tuesday time again. I am currently re-reading Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, which was one of my favorite books when I was 8. This is one of two books I am reading in honor of Banned Books Week, and it's even better than I remember! I'll probably have more to say about this book later in the week; but for now, the teaser:

Janie Gibbs was Harriet's best friend besides Sport. She had a chemistry set and planned one day to blow up the world (p. 29).

I think this particular quote gives a taste of Fitzhugh's writing style and her quirky characters, which are only part of what make Harriet the Spy such a good read.

Fall Into Reading 2009

2009-09-24T16:12:00.004-04:00

I've decided to join Fall Into Reading 2009, hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days. The challenge started September 22 and ends December 20.

I think I like these seasonal reading challenges. They're pretty low key. And I absolutely love Autumn: curling up with a good book and a hot drink on chilly days. And that Fall Into Reading 2009 button is just so darn cute!

Anwyay, here's my list:

Vinegar Hill
Julie and Julia
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
The Poisonwood Bible
Schaum's Quick Guide to Writing Great Short Stories
The Forest for the Trees
Once Again to Zelda
Reading Lolita in Tehran

Vinegar Hill (which I am reading now) and Reading Lolita are my leftovers from the Summer Reading Challenge 2009. Julie and Julia, Guernsey, and Poisonwood are all books that other bloggers and commenters have inspired me to read. Writing Great Short Stories and Forest for the Trees are the latest additions to my growing collection of books on writing. And Once Again, Zelda is a book I picked up because i am a sucker for books about books.

Booking Through Thursday - Recent Sadness

2009-09-24T11:39:00.003-04:00

It's BTT day again. This week's inquiry:

What’s the saddest book you’ve read recently?

(Is anybody getting bored with this series of “recent” questions? Because I’m having fun!)

I had to think really hard about this one and, after realizing that I don't read that many "sad" novels, I was going to skip it. Then I remembered this book, Sex Trafficking by Kathryn Farr. This was assigned reading for a seminar on women and globalization. It's about the one milion women and children who are forced to into sex slavery each year, and the social, political and economic forces that enable this crime. And it's sad, because it's true.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants some really eye-opening insight into a (sadly) overlooked problem. If you're the kind of person who likes those Dateline NBC and 20/20 type investigative reports, you might like to read this book. But it is probably the most depressing book I've ever read.

2009-09-24T10:44:00.001-04:00

A little National Punctuation Day treat, courtesy of the talented Debbie Ridpath Ohi:

Visit her at Inkygirl for more delightful diversions.

Teaser Tuesday: Vinegar Hill - A. Manette Ansay

2009-09-22T12:01:00.002-04:00

It seems like everyone's doin' it these days: the Teaser Tuesdays meme, that is. I'm not sure where I first saw this as I have come across a lot of really great book blogs lately. But anyway, here is how it works.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I am currently reading Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay. I just started reading it the other day and am only a few pages in. Here's the teaser:

"Powdered milk is cheaper," Mary-Margaret says, looking at the milk jug. Her eyes are red behind her bifocals, and the veins in her forehead stand out in a pattern that reminds Ellen of stained glass (p. 40).

It's probably not the ~~best~~ most telling teaser for this novel, which is described as a "chilling" and "brilliant, bitter book."

Check out more teasers over here!

Summer 2009 Reading Challenge Results

2009-09-21T23:39:00.002-04:00

Today was the last day of the Summer 2009 Reading Challenge hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer Reads. This was my first ever reading challenge (since my Book It! days, anyway,) and I had set a rather modest goal for myself, a list of five books I wanted to read this summer.

Well, I am sorry to say that I failed in my summer reading endeavor. I have only finished reading three novels(Click the links to read my thoughts on these books):

Lost and Found by Carolyn Parkhurst
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Born Again by Kelly Kearney

And I have only just started on the fourth. On one hand I feel like such a slowpoke. But on the other I am pretty proud of myself for finishing as many as I did, especially considering the short-notice, cross-country move. I'm so glad I took this challenge because I really have rediscovered the pleasure of getting lost in a good book this summer.

And I definitely think that doing the reading challenge has helped me to once again develop a reading habit. That is why I intend to take on more reading challenges right away. Keep an eye out for my Fall reading list; coming soon. And maybe a couple of other challenges, too.

I hope you all had lovely summers filled with books and writing and other good things!

BBAW Meme - All About Your Blog

2009-09-18T19:23:00.005-04:00

Okay, Kiddies. It's time for Show and Tell. Or at least, Tell. Today's BBAW Meme:

Tell us and this is really important, in 50 words or less what you love best about your blog! And then in 50 words or less where you want your blog to be by the next BBAW! Ready? GO!

What I love about my blog:

I love sharing my favorite reads and my thoughts on books with other book lovers. I love getting recommendations of books to read. I am proud of figuring out technical things like tweaking HTML. And I love recording my passion for reading and books I have read.

Where I want my blog to be by the next BBAW:

I'd like Aliteratus to be a haven for readers and writers, full of thought-provoking discussion, funny diversions and interesting, regularly updated content: reviews, memes, useful widgets and resources. And I'd like to have a much longer list of books that I have read and reviewed!

That is all.

What about you? What do you like about Aliteratus. Do you have suggestions to improve it? What do you like best about your own blog? Post a comment with a link back to your blog and I'll be sure to visit!

Booking Through Thursday - Recent Enjoyable

2009-09-18T18:16:00.003-04:00

Oh, I had almost forgotten that yesterday was Booking Through Thursday. Here we go:

What’s the most enjoyable, most fun, most just-darn-entertaining book you’ve read recently?(Mind you, this doesn’t necessarily mean funny, since we covered that already. Just … GOOD.)

And the answer is Pregnant Pause by Carrie Friedman. This book is the most hilarious examination of the way our culture treats pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. Friedman holds nothing back, offering hilarious opinions and touching stories of her experiences with:

pressure from friends, relatives (and even strangers,) to hurry up and procreate,
baby lust and biological clocks
fear that having a child will change her life before she's ready
dealing with other peoples kids (and their parents.)

I was so excited when I came across this book in the Women's Studies section of the book store. Friedman articulates a lot of what I (and, surely, a lot of women in their 20s and 30s) have been feeling about babies, careers and the incredible responsibility that comes with being a parent. I related more to this book than anything I've read in a long time. And it made me feel more secure in my own choices and desires. (And the part about her dog totally made me cry.)

But, besides all that (and more to the point of this post,) did I mention that Friedman's book is freakin' hilarious? Seriously laugh-out-loud funny stuff laced with vitriol. I say it's the perfect pairing for your favorite wine.

And I hope that when she becomes a mother she writes a hilarious Erma Bombeck-style book on her parenting experiences. Find out more about Carrie Friedman and her writing at carriefriedmania.com

Shameless plug alert: I wrote a review of Pregnant Pause for Suite101 a while ago.

Austin Pics and a New Not-So-Bookish Blog

2009-09-17T14:31:00.006-04:00

We finally managed to unearth the camera's USB cable,

so I thought I would share wth you this pic Charlie took of downtown Austin:

And this one, of the lovely built-in bookshelves in our new place,

which, after the Great Pre-moving Book-Purge of 2009 we no longer have enough books to fill.

Oh well, I guess I will have to get more books. (Pity):

And, for Sue, a pic of my precious: my 1913 Underwood No. 5 typewriter that Charlie gave me for my birthday (which, as it turns out, is the material possession I was most concerned about surviving the move.) and a curious kitteh investigating the camera:

And, then I thought I would take the opportunity to tell you about my latest little project.

Remember when I theorized that writers can procrastinate by blogging?

Well, that didn't stop me from creating another one,

about Austin and buying local.

If you are so inclined,

check it out:

The Wizard of Austin

BBAW Meme - You and Your Reading Habits

2009-09-17T13:33:00.003-04:00

Okay, okay. I know I'm a little late to the game. but I think I'd be a pretty crummy book blogger if I didn't acknowledge BBAW and join in on the fun. So here we go:

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
Sure. I'm a sucker for gummy bears and I just bought a popcorn popper.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of
writing in books horrify you?
I have been known to write in books all the time: underlining favorite passages, making notes in the margins. I am trying to break that habit though, and take notes on scrap paper, so I can pass the book along in good condition.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?
I used to dog-ear pages; but don't anymore (see above.) Now I grab scrap paper, a receipt, or whatever to use as a bookmark.

Laying the book flat open?
Again, I used to do this, but try to be gentler with my books now (I am a recovering book abuser!)

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
I have been reading a lot of non-fiction, but am trying to read more fiction. I started this blog partly to encourage myself to explore and read more fiction (10 pages a day) and keep track of what I read.

Hard copy or audiobooks?
Print. I have never listened to an audiobook, but I would like to give it a try.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you
able to put a book down at any point?
I like to read to the ends of chapters, but I usually just read until I'm falling asleep and the words and letters are out-of-focus and running together.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
Sometimes, but more often I jot the word down to look up later, which I may or may not get around to doing.

What are you currently reading?
I'm not as fast as some of the readers out there! I'm still reading The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards (but I'm almost finished.) I'm also reading a book of poetry by Patricia Neely-Dorsey, Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia: A Life in Poems, which I plan to review later this week. And then there is Schaum's Quick Guide to Writing Great Short Stories, which I just started

What is the last book you bought?
I think it was Schaum's Quick Guide to Writing Great Short Stories. The next book I intend to buy is Julie and Julia (but I also would love to read Julie Powell's blog archives, too. (I can't decide which to read first: the book or the blog?)

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can
you read more than one at a time?
As illustrated above, I usually have a few going one time - part of why it takes me so long to finish one, I guess!

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
Hmm. I love reading in bed late at night. I am also a fan of reading outside on nice afternoons.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
I usually read stand alone books. Series books and sequels I have read are: all the Harry Potter books, the first three Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books, the Ya-Ya Sisterhood books, and both Bridget Jones books.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
I keep recommending my favorite literary novels: To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee and The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. Also, I have been known to recommend Geek Love by Katherine Dunn.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
First on shelves by genre, then into ever-migrating piles, then back onto shelves - it's ~~a vicious cycle,~~ a revolving system.

And there you have it. Check out the BBAW meme for more book blogger quirks.

Is Journaling Bad for Writers?

2009-09-14T18:00:00.031-04:00

I was just hunting around for helpful writing resources to add to the blog and ended up reading the transcript of a podcast on the pros and cons of journaling by Mignon Fogarty, author of Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing and an upcoming book, The Grammar Devotional. Her words gave me some food for thought: Is journal writing a form of procrastination for writers? Fogarty thinks it can be.

There are benefits to journaling, like the chance to work out thoughts, process feelings and flesh out ideas. Journaling and freewriting also help writers develop a daily writing habit. I use a journal file on my laptop for all of these things. But the Lost Wanderer also has some interesting views on the value of freewriting.

I think these writers are onto something here. So many writer resources preach: Write, write, write! Write every day! Write in the morning. Keep a notebook. Yes, this is all great for jotting down ideas and getitng the juices flowing. But maybe, once a writer is past a certain point, what is being produced is actually more important than the simple act of putting pen to paper day after day.

I agree with both Grammar Girl and Lost Wanderer that journals and freewriting can keep a writer from focusing on actual writing projects. And I think blogging can have the same effect. But I also think that all three mediums – freewriting, journaling and blogging – can help a writer develop a voice and a writing style, as well as a quicker pace.

What are your thoughts? Is blogging a merely form of online journaling? Or does the fact that blogs are written (presumably at least) for an audience make them a more valuable writing exercise than a journal or freewriting? Do you journal and, if you are a writer, how is journaling or blogging helpful to your craft?

Booking Through Thursday - Recent Informative

2009-09-11T03:29:00.015-04:00

Well, it seems this blog is fast becoming a mere log of my BTT-related musings; but, c'est la vie. This week's prompt:

"What’s the most informative book you’ve read recently?"

The most informative book I've read recently is Green Housekeeping by Ellen Sandbeck. It's a book about living sustainably by having fewer possessions to maintain and care for. It's very inspiring.

It's also a book of housekeeping tips for people who hate to clean (or have better things to do.) Sandbeck has handy tips to help you organize and clean everything in your house quickly and naturally. And, as an added bonus, you can learn the many ways to avoid botulism and other nasty stuff.

Another book I've read recently is Knitting Little Luxuries by Louisa Harding. This is a book of knititing patterns, so it isn't that informative unless you want to know how to knit gorgeous, frilly, lacy things for waifish models to wear at the beach in Winter (which I totally do.). The patterns are pretty, and so is the photography.

But, seriously, I wonder why is it that knitting books and magazines, in general, always seem to feature models wearing knits on the beach? Or wearing, say, a sweater and . . . underwear. When I see those photos, I think: Um, if they're cold, maybe they should put on some pants. And for that matter, why do these books, unless they specifically feature "plus-size" patterns all feature waifish models in the first place? I suppose they are like any fashion book or magazine, but I find it annoying. Real women knit; shouldn't real women model knits?

Anyway, I digress. It's late. (Or early, depending on your frame of mind.) I'm punchy. I've been writing like crazy (just not around here.!) all week long. After the moving chaos, I needed to catch up on my article writing, submitting 9 articles over the course of 4 days.

More reviews and things coming soon; but now it's time for me to get a little shut-eye.

Happy ~~Saturday~~ Friday! (Did I mention it's been a long week?)

The End.

P.S.. Book review of Green Housekeeping for Suite101.
P.P.S. Book review of Knitting Little Luxuries for Suite101.

Booking Through Thursday - Recent Big

2009-09-04T14:49:00.003-04:00

What’s the biggest book you’ve read recently?
(Feel free to think “big” as size, or as popularity, or in any other way you care to interpret.)

Not that I’ve had a lot of time to read lately, but the biggest book – in terms of popularity - that I have read recently is The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards. Actually, I am currently reading it as part of my Summer Reading Challenge. I’m about 150 pages in, and it’s fabulous.

The book was recommended to me by my friend Sarah. Otherwise, I dont know that I'd have chosen to read it (especially since I happened to catch the made for television movie and didn't think it was that good.) But I am really enjoying this book, which begins when a doctor tells his wife that their daughter died at birth when, really, he has ordered a nurse to take the infant girl, who has Down syndrome, to an institution. The nurse, however, refuses to condemn the baby to such a life, and runs away with her, to raise as her own. I am really enjoying both the story that unfolds and the beauty of the writing. I keep pausing to reread particularly descriptive or lyrical sentences. It's the kind of writing that inspires me to write.